Jamaica's Appleton Estate rum tour getting US$7.2m upgrade
Work is progressing on a US$7.2m (€6.8m, £6m) upgrade to Jamaica’s Appleton Estate Rum Tour, with Jack Rouse Associates (JRA) taking charge of completely redeveloping the historic brand’s visitor experience.
Scheduled for completion in October 2017, work will include the renovation of the existing sugar estate and distillery that has been handcrafting rums since 1749, with the addition of modern rum tasting rooms, an expansive retail store, and a new restaurant and lounge offering Appleton-infused traditional Jamaican cuisine.
In addition to renovation work, the estate will receive a 23,000sq ft (2,200sq m) expansion, as well as an expansive outdoor tour of the estate grounds, distillery and ageing house, highlighting the history and process of crafting a premium rum. There is also talk of possible future development of a boutique hotel.
“Appleton has the distinction of being Jamaica’s oldest sugar estate and rum distillery in continuous production,” said Clara Rice, director of communications for JRA, speaking to Attractions Management. “We’ll be building on that history while adding some new experiences as well.”
In addition to renovation work, Attractions Management understands that estate owners J. Wray & Nephew Ltd, are in talks with Jamaica’s government to revive a rail service for the tour, which could potentially triple visitor numbers.
The rail line, which hasn’t been operational since the 1990s, travels between the estate where the rum is distilled and the dock where cruise ship passengers dock. If the train was brought into operation it would cut in half the current three-hour bus ride, with visitors also able to start their rum experience on the train as they travel to their destination.
Appleton Estate Jamaica rum visitor attraction train wray and nephew experience designSpam gets dedicated brand home with new museum at Minnesota birthplace
JRA hosts Ohio State students for training day
LaunchPAD Children's Museum opens to public
Space Center Houston readies new shuttle exhibit for launch
Children's Museum of Atlanta reopens following US$8.9m renovation
IAAPA 2015: Keith James wins lifetime achievement Thea award
JRA masterplan AED20bn Sharjah Waterfront City's Crystal Lagoon Water Theme Park
Europe's premier Evian Spa unveiled at Hôtel Royal in France
Clinique La Prairie unveils health resort in China after two-year project
GoCo Health Innovation City in Sweden plans to lead the world in delivering wellness and new science
Four Seasons announces luxury wellness resort and residences at Amaala
Aman sister brand Janu debuts in Tokyo with four-floor urban wellness retreat
€38m geothermal spa and leisure centre to revitalise Croatian city of Bjelovar
Two Santani eco-friendly wellness resorts coming to Oman, partnered with Omran Group
Kerzner shows confidence in its Siro wellness hotel concept, revealing plans to open 100
Ritz-Carlton, Portland unveils skyline spa inspired by unfolding petals of a rose
Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners are just one of the names behind The Emory hotel London and Surrenne private members club
Peninsula Hot Springs unveils AUS$11.7m sister site in Australian outback
IWBI creates WELL for residential programme to inspire healthy living environments
Conrad Orlando unveils water-inspired spa oasis amid billion-dollar Evermore Resort complex
Studio A+ realises striking urban hot springs retreat in China's Shanxi Province
Populous reveals plans for major e-sports arena in Saudi Arabia
Wake The Tiger launches new 1,000sq m expansion
Othership CEO envisions its urban bathhouses in every city in North America
Merlin teams up with Hasbro and Lego to create Peppa Pig experiences
SHA Wellness unveils highly-anticipated Mexico outpost
One&Only One Za’abeel opens in Dubai featuring striking design by Nikken Sekkei
Luxury spa hotel, Calcot Manor, creates new Grain Store health club
'World's largest' indoor ski centre by 10 Design slated to open in 2025
Murrayshall Country Estate awarded planning permission for multi-million-pound spa and leisure centre
Aman's Janu hotel by Pelli Clarke & Partners will have 4,000sq m of wellness space
Therme Group confirms Incheon Golden Harbor location for South Korean wellbeing resort
Universal Studios eyes the UK for first European resort
King of Bhutan unveils masterplan for Mindfulness City, designed by BIG, Arup and Cistri
Rural locations are the next frontier for expansion for the health club sector
Tonik Associates designs new suburban model for high-end Third Space health and wellness club
Aman sister brand Janu launching in Tokyo in 2024 with design by Denniston's Jean-Michel Gathy
From Nobu Restaurants and Ian Schrager’s latest hotel to Imagination Playgrounds and the set design for The Rocky Horror Show, US architect and designer David Rockwell always keeps it fresh. He tells us the secrets of his creativity